Gov’t Enabling Society’s Most Vulnerable To Own A Home

The New Social Housing Programme (NSHP), initiated in 2018 by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is enabling poor and indigent persons to own their own home.

Being implemented under the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment Programme (HOPE), with oversight by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, the initiative aims to improve the housing condition of the country’s most needy population, through the provision of quality, affordable and sustainable housing.

The NSHP consists of three modalities. The first is the provision of indigent housing, with the benefits equitably distributed across all 63 constituencies, with each constituency receiving five units per annum. Approximately 315 housing units per annum will be constructed under this modality.

Next is the relocation of vulnerable communities, with priority given to persons in imminent danger; and the third modality is the upgrading of tenement yards, with one such project undertaken per constituency.

Of the applications received for housing, 244 have been approved by the NSHP’s Project Oversight Committee (POC).

For fiscal year 2021/2022, the Government has budgeted $500 million to ensure completion and delivery of homes to beneficiaries.

Prime Minister Holness, who was addressing a ceremony for the handover of a three-bedroom housing unit in Pedro, St. Catherine, recently, said that “NSHP is a symbol of hope for persons who are in very difficult circumstances”.

“Yes, the Government cares enough about your situation and is putting in place mechanisms to address it,” he pointed out.

He noted that the houses “are built at a high standard. The units will withstand a hurricane and the finishes are such that they are very pleasing to the eye”.

The targeted 315 units to be delivered per year under the programme will go a far way in addressing the needs of the thousands of persons across the island, whose living conditions need to be improved.

“If we manage to deal with 300, it is 300 less, then next year we do another 300, and little by little we will make an impact on this problem,” Mr. Holness noted.

Beneficiary of the housing unit in Pedro, Charmaine Lewis, expressed gratitude that her family of four now has a safe place to call home. She said that the house is a source of pride and joy.

Ms. Lewis lauded the HOPE representatives for “reforming the lives of persons in need”.

“I really appreciate your willingness to assist me and my family and your support during these very challenging times,” she said.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Audrey Sewell, in her remarks, said that the NSHP is providing needy Jamaicans with somewhere to call home.

She urged the beneficiaries to keep the houses in good condition.

She informs that while recommendations are made by Members of Parliament for the houses, which are equally allocated to all 63 constituencies “we do an assessment to determine whether it should be a one-bedroom, two or a three bedrooms”.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Holness said that in addition to bringing hope to persons who are unable to afford proper housing, it is hoped that the NSHP will help to foster investment by others in the building of low-cost solutions.

Mr. Holness says that one way to deliver more affordable housing is to bring down the cost of construction.

He says that the Government is looking at initiatives in this effort, including devising a project where developers are provided with lands, so that part of the cost is not reflected in the price of the houses.

The Prime Minister has also called for developers to look at alternative building methods and materials that are just as durable and far more affordable and to also employ environmentally friendly construction practices.

He says that, going forward, the Government is encouraging planned development with proper infrastructure that enables security of residents, efficient garbage collection, and a reduction of informal communities.